Former India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, other cricketers including KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and cricketing fraternity greats extended their best wishes to Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement. On Thursday, Rahane announced his decision to retire from all formats of cricket, bringing a glorious 20-year-long career to an end. The former India Test captain took to social media to post an emotional video revealing that he has decided to pull curtains on his journey as a player. As soon as the video was uploaded, social media was flooded with emotional edits, messages and wishes for the player fondly called ‘Jinx’ by fans and pundits alike.
Not only fans, but his former teammates including Shikhar Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav, and broadcasters including Harsha Bhogle took to social media to wish the batter for the next chapter of his life. Yadav, the 2026 T20 World Cup winning captain posted on X, “Congratulations on an incredible career, Ajju da. It was an honour sharing the field and dressing room with you. Your calmness, resilience and commitment to the game have inspired so many of us. Wishing you and your family all the very best for this exciting second innings. May this new chapter bring you as much joy and success as the last.”
Apart from him, KL Rahul took to Instagram Stories and shared a picture with Rahane in Test uniform writing, “Congratulations on a remarkable career, Jinx. All the best for the next chapter.”
Commentator and cricket expert Harsha Bhogle also wished the Maharashtra cricketer luck for his next innings. He hailed Rahane as a “tough, loyal cricketer, a person of great character and an extraordinary team player.” Bhogle tweeted, “Ajinkya Rahane will be remembered for many things but more than for anything else, his outstanding leadership that produced India's greatest away series win in Australia in 2021. Indian cricket must continue to use Rahane because he has the right qualities. Well played Rahane, always enjoyed the way you played and what you brought to the game.”
Hope your next chapter is as beautiful: Shikhar Dhawan Pens Emotional Message for ‘Bro’ Ajinkya Rahane
Former India opener and Rahane’s teammate Shikhar Dhawan penned an emotional and wholesome note for ‘bro’ on his retirement. On Instagram, Dhawan posted a series of pictures with the Mumbai batter, recalling their time together on tours and in dressing rooms. He wrote, "Jinks kitne tours, kitne dressing rooms, kitni partnerships... aur kitni yaadein. Captain ke roop mein bhi tujhe utna hi composed dekha, aur teammate ke roop mein bhi utna hi dependable. Bahar se hamesha calm... andar se sirf India ke liye ladne wala insaan. Ab agla chapter bhi utna hi khoobsurat ho. Lots of love, bro.”
One of the most memorable highlights of Rahane’s career came in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The 38-year-old took charge of the Indian Test team as the stand-in captain following the team’s collapse for 36 in Adelaide and Virat Kohli’s departure for the paternity leave. He responded with a match-winning century at the MCG before leading an injury-riddled side to a historic 2-1 series triumph, capped by the famous Gabba win.
